New Forest
Thinking positive that we will be able to do the New forest sites in September or October. We have never been to either site, at the moment l have booked the centenary site early September, Blacknowl mid October. We intend to do cycling most days and two rounds of golf one of which will be the New Forest club course which was recommended to us by a couple of members that played our open some years ago. l believe October to be a good month to see the Autumn colours, we have booked September at the Centenary site for September but are unsure which site is best for cycling, we know Brockenhurst is close to Blacknowl, not sure which is better of the two for cycling. We have two electric bikes which we use a lot for shopping instead of taking the motorhome. We live in East Cheshire and intend to break our journey, the ones l have picked out are Bladon Chains, Morton in the Marsh, Bourton on the water and Chichester, doing Chichester means M6 and dreaded M5 not sure if we want to negotiate both them had to many horrendous times over the past 40 years. Anyone with advice would be greatly appreciated.
Stay Safe
Heethers
Comments
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H - are you a C&CC member? When we've done similar to your journey, albeit in the opposite direction, we've found their site at Wolverley ideal for an overnight stop off. It has the merit of taking you off the motorway before the stretch leading to the M5/M6 interchange. There's a canal running right past the site for walking or cycling and pubs in the village doing good meals. Just a thought.
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We have been to Black Knowl a few times, but not since the refurbishment. We like it there with easy level walks from outside the gates which would be equally good for cycling. Brockenhurst is nearby with a whole range of facilities. No knowledge of the Centenary site, it's always looked a bit remote to me but I am sure others can help you out. When thinking about sites I often use Google Earth to see the lay of the land so to speak. The other three sites you mention are all within walking distance of the shops and places of interest, although I don't think you can cycle through the Park at Cirencester. As for motorways who knows how they will be in a few months time, they seem pretty quiet at the moment so we don't know how long it will be bore they get really busy again. We tend to try and travel on a Sunday if doing long journeys as there tends to be less lorries.
David
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Black Knowl at Brockenhurst is our favourite site. The site is right on the edge of the forest so all footpaths are accessible. The town of Brockenhurst if very close and as David Klyne said has all the facilities you need. There is also a railway station there.
You will have all the autumn colours in October and the ponies/deer come right up to the park perimeter. The site is away from passing traffic so is very quiet.
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Of the sites you are looking at Cirencester is great stop off for M/C as is Black Knowl for the New Forest ,,we have used both sites the Centenary site is a bit remote
Black Knowl site is handy for cycling , with Brockenhurst close enough for shopping and public transport Both buses and trains
Ps access roads to Cirencester and Black Knowl need to be negotiated with care (poor surfaces)
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We stayed at the Centenary site last year in July and loved it so can’t comment ion Black Knowl as we have never been to that one. The centenary site was excellent although it is very big but well spaced out so everyone has plenty of space. We took our bikes and this site was ideal for cycling we done over 100 miles in the fortnight we were there cycling in to Christchurch a few time’s which was an easy route in either cycle paths or on quiet roads also the villages such as Burley were easily accessible by bikes and the roads were nice and quiet and nice scenery too. Also the site was close to many attractions and some nice pubs near by. Overall a great site and one we would like to visit again.
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Beware the NF rutting season...check dates!
The whole forest has good cycle rides although you're expected to stick to the cycle routes, some paths are just for walkers.I like the Black Knowl area as the scenery is lovely around there, the Oberwater is just outside the site and in the past we've cycled to Lyndhurst through the forest. Brockenhurst village is nearby and also the station for Bournemouth etc. Just up the road from the site entrance is the Rhinefield Ornamental Drive and the Blackwater Arboretum, both can be reached on bikes.
We've had several stays at Black Knowl but if heading back in the future will be going to quieter more "natural" sites amongst the trees.
Have you thought about a stop off at Warwick as you head south, it's in a good spot for access to the Fosse Way.
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Thanks all, some great advice to take in, is there bus service from the site to Brockenhurst train station, would love to visit Bournemouth to relive my childhood holidays, memories of traveling from Cheshire in a Hillman Husky five of us and a stop at Morton in the marsh on the way down. Stopping at the Devon towers Hotel on St Michaels r.d would love to visit again fantastic memories. Oh how time has flown by
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No bus service unfortunately but you could walk or take a taxi. It takes about half an hour to walk from the site to the village, the station is at the far end. The edge of Brockenhurst village is opposite the drive way to the site.
I'm fond of Bournemouth too, my granny was born there, near the nice old town centre gardens.
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We stayed at the centennial site for one of our first outings in Molly.
Not being experienced at MH camping, thought it an ideal site to start our adventures.
It is a lovely site but in the middle of nowhere, its about 5 miles to Hinton Admiral station and further into Christchurch / Bournemouth, be aware, some of the roads are pretty narrow through this part of the forest with no verge and deep rain ditches either side.
As the site is on an old Airfield (WW2 Memorial around the corner) the ground is pretty hard even on the grass pitches so take rock pegs if you put up an awning!
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Hi H, there is another thread about Black Knowle On here which run last Autumn, started Nov 19. I have just cut and pasted my entry about a very old church and cemetery which is worth a visit on your bikes, read on:
“Hi all, just picked this thread up, and another interesting place to visit, either walking or by bike, is St Nicholas Church, just off Church Lane, which is just over the Brockenhurst railway crossing. This is the oldest church in the New Forest. There is a cemetery and lovely memorial to the New Zealand Infantry and others who were based in Brockenhurst during WW1 & WWII. There are storyboards telling the story of how Brockenhurst and the railway line transported troops, horses and stores to Southampton docks and emphasising how important this place was during both world wars. The memorial area is right at the back of the cemetery. But also, the church is very old and there is a Yew tree near the church entrance that is over 1,000 years old. The oldest records of the church go back to c 1160. For more information look up www.brockenhurstchurch.com.”
BillC
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Ooh, a youngster. Our church is 1133 and it comes with a castle. Not a free one though. You'll have to pay EH to go round the keep.
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The New Forest was planted up as a hunting forest on the command of William the Conqueror after 1066. Like many places churches were set up around that time to pray for the souls of those in charge (get them a passage to heaven whilst they went out fighting!
) So many churches date to that era as well as further back. Our local church was built on land belonging to Queen Matilda, the English wife of William the Conqueror who was given lands taken from the locals as happened all over the country. The locals then had to build the churches (they did a good job) and then pay their tithes to the church, not so good. The New Forest is a wonderful relic of our past. 1 -
Easy........there are lots of Anglo Saxon churches around. Lots of course have been rebuilt, added onto, re designed. But that’s the nature of churches. St Gregory’s Minster, near Helmsley is a lovely example.
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/AngloSaxonSites/
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Red Shoot Camping Park in the new Forest is a lovely site, for a few days. It is a little out of the way with just a pub a few yards away for meals and/or a drink but not too far out of the way if you want to visit the nearest town. It is not a CMHC or CCC site but has a shop on site and decent facilities. If you break up your journey, hopefully, it should not be too bad travelling down the motorway and the Cotswolds are lovely at that time of year.
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My OH is a member of New Forest GC and tells me visitors are welcome – see newforestgolfclub.co.uk for info. The club is not posh, is fairly casual, not flat but no steep hills and the members are friendly. The course is on typical forest land and is shared with ponies, the odd cow and occasional dog walker (locals so know where not to go!). I would say that Black Knowl is probably better for cycling and is near the village. Centenery site is a bit out of the way but not far from various pubs and the A35, the route to Christchurch etc. This is a fast road upon which loads of inexperienced cyclists risk life and limb in summer, however there are good cycle routes all over the forest. Both sites are nice (we’ve stayed on both and now live locally). I hope it works out for you and the sites open but don’t hold your breath.
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Meecee thanks for the info, we looked at the golf course, it looks has you describe it, we love playing different types of Golf Course mainly the small ones not the country club types. Our golf course Macclesfield is either the first oldest or the second oldest in Cheshire 1889, one famous golf club tries to dispute it. We will look forward to playing it, has l said we met a couple that played the Macclesfield open some years ago who recommended it to us, once again thank you for your post.
Heethers
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